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Picture of a Thousand Faces

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Picture of a Thousand Faces
Studio album by
the Eric Gales Band
Released1993
StudioArdent, Kiva
GenreBlues rock
LabelElektra
ProducerJim Gaines, Terry Thomas
The Eric Gales Band chronology
The Eric Gales Band
(1991) 		Picture of a Thousand Faces
(1993)

Picture of a Thousand Faces is the second album by the American band the Eric Gales Band, released in 1993.[1][2] Gales was 18 when the album came out.[3] The first single was "Paralyzed", which peaked at No. 31 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.[4][5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6]

Production

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The album was recorded at Ardent Studios and Kiva Studios, in Memphis.[7] It was produced primarily by Jim Gaines, who developed appendicitis during the recording sessions.[8] The band's label, Elektra, hired Terry Thomas to help Gales achieve a poppier sound on some of the tracks.[9] Eric's brother, Eugene, moved from bass to guitar, so that the band could have a fuller sound.[10] Some songs were influenced by the Gales brothers' Christian faith, although Eugene did not consider the music to be Christian rock.[11] "Angel of the Night" is a ballad.[12] "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is a cover of the Beatles song.[4] "Take a Look (Deep Inside of You)" reflects on the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[13]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Indianapolis Star[12]
Philadelphia Daily News[14]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[15]
Tampa Bay Times[16]

The Philadelphia Daily News noted that "since Jimi's sad demise, there's been a horde of guys trying to kiss the Hendrix flame and make a blazing soul-rock connection... Eric Gales, represented here with his bristling second album, is one of the cockier challengers".[14] The Las Vegas Review-Journal said that Gales, with Picture of a Thousand Faces, is "a rare example of a new artist with a sound that rocks hard enough for 'mainstream' radio formats, but with a sophistication more common to the alternative or 'adult eclectic' side of the dial."[3] The Tampa Bay Times concluded that, "with his blazing blues-rock excursions a given, the only big obstacle for Gales is finding material".[16]

The Los Angeles Times opined that "while the new second album ... is an improvement over the debut collection, neither one features any grabbers."[17] The Hamilton Spectator concluded that "the right combination of rock and soul, killer tunes ... and wailing solos make Picture of a Thousand Faces one of the guitar rock albums of the year."[18] The Indianapolis Star stated that "the band's distinctive sound—punctuated with smooth lead vocals from Gales and his brother Eugene layered over frenzied guitar work—is easily discernible from the mishmash of a lot of rock on the radio".[12] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette concluded: "Not content to ape archaic gutbucket blues like many white-bread contemporaries, heavy blues rock, in Gales' hands, hasn't sounded this good since the unfortunate demise of Badlands. Ten years ago, they would've called this a metal album."[15]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Paralyzed" 
2."Angel of the Night" 
3."Picture of a Thousand Faces" 
4."God Only Knows" 
5."I Want You (She's So Heavy)" 
6."Temple of Deliverance" 
7."Guilty of the Innocence" 
8."Misty" 
9."Take a Look (Deep Inside of You)" 
10."Bang That Bell" 
11."Draw the Line" 

References

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  1. ^ Armstrong, Gene (September 17, 1993). "Blues, rock and benefits make for a busy week". Arizona Daily Star. p. 4G.
  2. ^ Rotondi, James (October 1993). "Eric Gales wants you!". Guitar Player. Vol. 27, no. 10. p. 80.
  3. ^ a b Weatherford, Mike (September 24, 1993). "Despite his tender age, Eric Gales sings the blues like a veteran". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2C.
  4. ^ a b "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 35. August 28, 1993. p. 62.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 100.
  6. ^ Beal Jr., Jim (September 7, 1993). "Gales develops power, finesse on his guitar". San Antonio Express-News. p. 2C.
  7. ^ Nager, Larry (July 31, 1993). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. C7.
  8. ^ Leffler, Marc (November 18, 1994). "Gales Growing by Leaps and Bounds". USA Today.
  9. ^ Harris, Paul A. (October 1, 1993). "The Kid from Memphis". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4EV.
  10. ^ Flippo, Lisa Denton (August 25, 1995). "Musical forecast; Gales at Nightfall". Chattanooga Times Free Press. p. D1.
  11. ^ Danner, Jennifer (October 12, 1993). "The Eric Gales Band". The Patriot-News. p. B11.
  12. ^ a b c Pugh, Dorothy L. (January 10, 1994). "The Eric Gales Band 'Picture of a Thousand Faces'". The Indianapolis Star. p. B8.
  13. ^ Kuelker, Michael (October 7, 1993). "Eric Gales: Special Effects, Funky Chords". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 5G.
  14. ^ a b Takiff, Jonathan (August 31, 1993). "Seeking Love in Dark Places". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 30.
  15. ^ a b Evosevic, John (November 28, 1993). "Entertainment". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E5.
  16. ^ a b Green, Tony (November 12, 1993). "Sound Bites". Weekend. Tampa Bay Times. p. 15.
  17. ^ Hunt, Dennis (October 1, 1993). "Talent Can't Save Gales Band". Los Angeles Times. p. F22.
  18. ^ Krewen, Nick (October 7, 1993). "The Eric Gales Band / Picture of a Thousand Faces". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 12.
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